Differences Between Keyword And Keyphrase

You’ve probably heard that doing keyword research is an essential, first step in optimizing your website properly. But how about these keywords: can they only be single words or can they also be longer multi-word keyphrases? And what exactly is the difference between the two? In this SEO basics post, we’ll explain the difference between a keyword and a keyphrase.

What is Keyword?

Firstly, a focus keyword is a word that describes the content of your page or post best. It’s the search term that you want to rank for with a certain page. So when people search for that keyword (not keyphrase) in Google or other search engines, they should find that page on your website. As an example: Your website is about dogs, and you’ve just written a blog post all about puppies. As a result, the keyword that describes the content of that post best is probably: “puppy”.

What is Keyphrase?

A (focus) keyphrase is the search term that you most want your post or page to rank for, so when people search for that keyphrase, they should find you. As an example: Your website is all about dogs, and you’ve just written a blog post all about how puppies can become obedient. The keyphrase that describes the content of the post best is something along the lines of: “puppy obedience training”

Differences Between Keyword And Keyphrase

Keywords or keyphrases should both describe the essence of what the post is about. The difference between the two is that keywords are single words, while keyphrases are made up of a few words.

What Are Search Queries?

Search queries are what users type into search engines like Google to find information. Users phrase their searches in a unique way, so 10 users searching for the same exact product could wind up creating 10 completely different search queries. Sometimes, they include misspellings.

Conclusion Between Keyword And Keyphrase

There are keywords and keyphrases. Keyphrases are 3 words or more such as “Condos in Toronto” or “Condos For Sale”. The methodology to search engine optimization is to target “long-tail keyphrases” which are actionable, i.e. a call to action. Optimizing for words such as “Toronto Condos” may yield more traffic but the quality of said traffic may not convert into a qualified lead but rather attract buyers who are not yet ready to buy.